Coast Guard station hosts ribbon-cutting ceremony

May 20th, 2009 · Comments Off on Coast Guard station hosts ribbon-cutting ceremony

WASHINGTON – The Coast Guard hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday to mark the establishment of a new facility for Coast Guard Station Washington, D.C.

The ceremony marks the completion of the command and control facility, the first of two phases, providing a 4,100 square-foot building costing nearly $1.5 million. This complex includes adequate office space, a command center, a multi-purpose training room, crew work space, storage and showering facilities.

The second and final phase includes duty berthing and a boat bay facility, which will provide Station Washington with a 4,200 square-foot building in late 2009 with an estimated cost of $2.2 million. This facility will provide rooms for duty berthing and a state-of-the-art boat maintenance facility adjacent to the command and control building.

These two phases mark the first time the Coast Guard has owned an operational facility in the National Capital Region and solidifies the Coast Guard’s presence as the lead maritime federal response agency. These new facilities are expected to improve the interoperability with port partners through enhanced communication capabilities and improved command and control functions.

“It’s hard to put into words what this new Coast Guard station means to the crew,” said Lt. Cmdr. Lynda C. LeCrone, the commanding officer of Station Washington. “Every day the women and men of Station Washington patrol the waters within the NCR to ensure the safety and security of millions of citizens. After six long years of operating in temporary facilities, they finally have their own station to call home.”

Station Washington’s mission is to detect, deter and defend against terrorist attacks in the NCR. They operate four 25-foot response boats with a crew of 30 Coast Guard active duty members, 21 reservists and over 100 auxiliary personnel. The area of responsibility covers a 26-nautical mile portion of the Potomac River and a portion of the Anacostia River.